A processor based system having a parser is configured for validating a generic command received from a user relative to a command parse tree. The command parse tree includes multiple elements, each specifying at least one corresponding generic command component and a corresponding at least one command action value. The parser, upon identifying a best match among the elements, issues a prescribed command for a selected one of the management programs according to the corresponding command format based on the selected command action value. Hence, a user may control multiple management programs having respective command formats, by using a set of generic commands that are independent from the command formats, eliminating the necessity that the user needs to learn the detailed command formats and syntax.